Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Amazing Salmon Recipes!!!

Ocean-farmed salmon is a high-protein meal that is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which are important for kids and adults alike. Evidence strongly suggests that increasing Omega-3 fatty acids in the diet helps prevent heart disease and, at increased consumption levels, may dramatically cut the mortality rate in heart attach survivors.
In addition, ocean-farmed salmon tastes great and can be cooked in a variety of ways for the entire family to enjoy. Salmon is the healthy, tasty choice.
Since the Omega-3 content varies widely in fish, it is important to note that ocean-farmed Atlantic salmon, at 1.9 grams per serving, and to a varying degree most species of wild salmon, provide higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids than most other fish sources. Fresh yellowfin tuna, for example, provides 0.2 gram per serving, swordfish provides 0.6 gram per serving and flounder provides 0.2 gram per serving. Mackerel, at 2.5 grams per serving, is another high-level source of Omega-3 fatty acids.
The USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (above) shows that both wild and ocean-farmed salmon contain high Omega-3 fatty acid levels, while chicken, beef and pork contain almost no Omega-3s.
Since the Omega-3 content varies widely in fish, it is important to note that ocean-farmed Atlantic salmon, at 1.9 grams per serving, and to a varying degree most species of wild salmon, provide higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids than most other fish sources. Fresh yellowfin tuna, for example, provides 0.2 gram per serving, swordfish provides 0.6 gram per serving and flounder provides 0.2 gram per serving. Mackerel, at 2.5 grams per serving, is another high-level source of Omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids
    Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that are essential for life and help protect against heart disease*, as well as promote healthy skin and joints.

Ocean-Farmed Salmon & PCBs

Numerous independent research studies - including those by the FDA, National Cancer Institute and National Academy of Sciences - have concluded that the PCB levels in both farmed and wild salmon are well below the FDA tolerance levels for PCBs. For example, in a 2003 Environmental Working Group (EWG) report on PCBs, farmed salmon was found to contain a low 275 parts per billion, whereas beef was found to contain 2,016 parts per billion, and poultry 386 parts per billion.

What are PCBs?

PCBs are polychlorinated biphenyls that were used in manufacturing for almost half a century. When PCBs were found to be toxic, the United States banned their use in 1979. There is no scientific evidence showing that PCBs in fish or the environment have ever caused cancer in humans. In fact, workers in industrial settings exposed to PCBs on a daily basis show no higher rates of cancer than the rest of the population.

Are ocean-farmed salmon high in PCBs?

  • Ocean-farmed salmon from Chile, Canada and the USA typically have 1/100 of the FDA tolerance for PCBs. Routine testing shows levels often 1/400 of the tolerance.
  • While the National Academy of Sciences review of PCBs in foods made recommendations on decreasing consumption for other PCB-contaminated foods, it did not mention limiting fish/salmon intake.
  • The FDA recently reviewed the tolerance level and affirmed that it is protective of consumers.
  • The National Cancer Institute states that there is no conclusive evidence that the low PCB levels found in salmon are linked to cancer.

Are ocean-farmed salmon higher in PCBs than wild salmon?

Wild salmon are not routinely tested as ocean-farmed salmon are, but several studies found higher PCB levels in wild salmon than are found in ocean-farmed salmon. These were in the Puget Sound of Washington State and the Copper River of Alaska. Both were government studies of a large sample. PCB levels were not above the FDA tolerance and this fish, as is the case with ocean-farmed salmon, is safe to eat.

Does the number of PCBs in ocean-farmed salmon comprise a significant part of the PCBs people ingest?

Based on the average per capita consumption, people get 8 times the amount of PCBs in a year from eating beef. PCBs from salmon represent about six percent of the total PCB consumption levels.

So now that we KNOW ocean farm raised salmon is a GREAT choice...HERE are some of my favorite salmon recipes!!!




Salmon Burger

ingredients

  • 1  lb.  fresh salmon fillet, skinned and cut into 1-inch chunks
  • 3/4  cup  panko (Japanese-style bread crumbs)
  • 2    green onions, thinly sliced
  • 2  Tbsp.  snipped fresh cilantro
  • 2  tsp.  grated fresh ginger
  • 1  clove  garlic, minced
  • 2    eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2  Tbsp.  reduced-sodium soy sauce
  • 1  Tbsp.  lemon juice
  • 2  Tbsp.  vegetable oil
  • 1  recipe  Lime Mayonnaise
  •     Sandwich buns and leaf lettuce (optional)

directions

1. Rinse salmon and pat dry; cut into 1-inch chunks. Place salmon in food processor; cover. Pulse 7 times to coarsely grind (do not overprocess); set aside. In bowl combine panko, green onions, cilantro, ginger, garlic, eggs, soy sauce, and lemon juice. Stir in salmon.
2. Line a tray with parchment paper or foil. Divide salmon into four (2/3-cup) mounds on the tray. Shape into 1-inch-thick patties. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 30 minutes or up to 8 hours (mixture will be easier to handle after chilling).
3. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add salmon patties. Cook 4 to 5 minutes per side or until cooked through (160 degrees F). Serve with Lime Mayonnaise on buns with lettuce.
Lime Mayonnaise:In a bowl stir together 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 Tbsp. minced red onion, and 2 tsp. lime juice. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

nutrition facts

  • Servings Per Recipe 4 servings
  •  
  • Calories437, 
  • Total Fat (g)30, 
  • Saturated Fat (g)5,
  • Monounsaturated Fat (g)10, 
  • Polyunsaturated Fat (g)7, 
  • Cholesterol (mg)173, 
  • Sodium (mg)544, 
  • Carbohydrate (g)12, 
  • Total Sugar (g)2, 
  • Fiber (g)1, 
  • Protein (g)29, 
  • Vitamin C (DV%)20, 
  • Calcium (DV%)5, 
  • Iron (DV%)7, 
  • Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet


Grilled Salmon Tacos


Grilled Salmon Tacos

1pound fresh or frozen skinless salmon fillets, or white fish
8ounces medium round red or white potatoes, cubed (1 cup)
1-1/2teaspoons ground chipotle chile pepper
3/4teaspoon sugar
1/2teaspoon salt
1cup purchased mild green salsa
3tablespoons lime juice
3/4cup thinly sliced green onions (6)
1/2cup snipped fresh cilantro
126-inch or sixteen 4-inch corn tortillas, warmed
1/2cup light dairy sour cream
 Lime wedges
1. Thaw fish, if frozen. Rinse fish; pat dry. Set aside. In covered small saucepan cook potatoes in enough boiling salted water to cover about 15 minutes or until tender. Drain and cool.
2. In small bowl combine chipotle chile pepper, sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon of the salt. Rinse fish; pat dry. Measure thickness of fish. Rub chile pepper mixture into fish. For a charcoal grill, grill fish on greased rack of uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 4 to 6 minutes per 1/2-inch thickness or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork, turning fish after half the grilling time. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place fish on greased grill rack over heat. Cover and grill as above.) Cool slightly. Break fish into chunks.
3. In medium bowl combine salsa, lime juice, and remaining salt. Add potatoes, fish, green onion, and cilantro; toss gently to coat.
4. Divide fish mixture among tortillas. Top with sour cream; fold tortillas. Serve with lime wedges. Makes: 6 to 8 servings

Nutrition Facts Per Serving:

  • Calories307
  • Total Fat (g)6
  • Saturated Fat (g)2
  • Cholesterol (mg)46
  • Sodium (mg)423
  • Carbohydrate (g)42
  • Fiber (g)4
  • Protein (g)21
  • Vitamin C (DV%)28
  • Calcium (DV%)15
  • Iron (DV%)24
  • Diabetic Exchanges

  • Starch (d.e.)2.5
  • Other Carbohydrates (d.e.).5
  • Very Lean Meat (d.e.)2


Slammin' Salmon

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup chopped green onions
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 cup peanut oil
  • 8 (4 ounce) skinless, boneless salmon fillets

Directions

  1. Stir balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and soy sauce with salt, brown sugar, ground ginger, paprika, pepper, and red pepper flakes until the salt has dissolved. Stir in garlic, green onions, sesame oil, and peanut oil until well combined.
  2. Pour marinade into a resealable plastic bag or glass bowl. Add salmon to marinade and gently toss to coat. Place into refrigerator and marinate 2 to 24 hours.
  3. Prepare an outdoor grill for medium-high heat.
  4. Drain excess marinade from salmon fillets. Grill until firm and opaque, about 4 minutes per side.


Soy Honey Glazed Salmon




Ingredients


    1/4 cup pure maple syrup (NOT pancake syrup!) or honey 1/4 cup soy sauce 2-3 cloves minced garlic 12 ounces fresh or thawed salmon



Directions

Combine the first 3 ingredients in a gallon-size ziploc bag, shake it up, and then add the salmon. Allow to marinate in the refrigerator for an hour, turning after half an hour. Pour the salmon and the marinade into a baking dish and bake in a 350 degree oven, covered with foil, for 15 minutes. The salmon is done when it flakes easily at the thickest part. Enjoy! Makes (4) 3 ounce servings.


Yields 4 servings




Victoria Secret 70% Off

Redeem your secret reward card at Victoria Secret store or VictoriaSecret.com It could be worth anywhere from $10 up to $500!!!
Also, right now at VictoriaSecret.com get $15 Off a $100 Order, $30 Off a $150 Order and $75 Off a $250 Order!!!



Victoria Secret has over 900 items in their clearance at 70% off or more!!! It's a HUGE sale and a great way to stock up on fall/winter clothes for next year as well as winter/fall boots! They also have a huge selection of swimsuits, swim separates, dresses, tops, bottoms, business attire, shoes, beauty and much much more on sale! Here are some of my favs!





Friday, April 8, 2011

Nail Fungus during the Summer? YUCK!!!

Embarrassed to take off your shoes? Unsightly toenails have you worried about sandal season? Suffering with yellow and painful toenails?

It seems like every spring and summer lots of people are coming into the nail salon with some kind of toenail fungus. Now, if I were the salon owner I would tell those customers they need to get it cleared up BEFORE we can do their nails. However, most salon's will still complete the manicure or pedicure on the infected person. GROSS! Seriously..how gross is that?? That's how fungus and bacteria is spread through salons. It's disgusting and can sometimes have serious side effects and complications. So, without having to go to a doctor and get a prescription what options do people have? 

One solution I've been hearing a lot about is Dr. G's Clear Nail. I have not personally tried it, but from what I've been told it works pretty well. 


BUT if you want the best results you should really go to your local pharmacy and pick up ZetaClear for nail fungus. This is supposed to have the best results!




Best Recipe for Oven Roasted Trout!!!


Ingredients

  • 1 cup soft bread crumbs
  • 1/2 sweet onion, minced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
  • 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup olive oil, divided
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 trout, cleaned and head removed

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
  2. Toss bread crumbs with onion, dill, lemon zest, garlic, and half of the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Press stuffing into the trout, then brush the trout with the remaining olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Place trout onto prepared baking sheet.
  3. Roast in the preheated oven until the skin of the fish begins to brown, and the flesh flakes easily with a fork, about 20 minutes.

Nutritional Information 

Amount Per Serving  Calories: 563 | Total Fat: 25.7g | Cholesterol: 201mg

I made this recipe a couple weeks ago and it was amazing!!! Everyone loved it!!! 

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Wedding Guest Dresses 2014 *updated*

Wedding season is finally here and it's time to start shopping for that perfect dress for the special occasion! Wedding guest dress shopping is always something I seem to stress over every time I attend a wedding. After talking to some friends, I've realized it's pretty common among women. So I've done some research and found many different styles of dresses that would be perfect for that spring or summer wedding coming up!


WHBM

SLEEVELESS LACE SHEATH DRESS

STYLE: 570124834


WHBM

CHIFFON SLEEVE SHIFT DRESS

STYLE: 570065151




WHBM

SHEER DOT BLACK INSTANTLY SLIMMING DRESS

STYLE: 570124230



WHBM

WATERFALL TIERED GOWN

STYLE: 570076893
This dress also comes in red


This first dress is by Maggy London and is extremely flattering on many different body types. It cinches in your waist and accentuates your bust.  

CHIFFON SLEEVE SHIFT DRESS

STYLE: 570065151



Forever21 is another store that has some amazing dresses at amazing prices! What is so great about this dress is that it only costs $29.80!!! It is a gorgeous dress that cinches in the waist and has a beautiful sweetheart neckline! Love it!


JS Boutique designed this next dress. I absolutely love this dress, and I'm contemplating purchasing it for an upcoming wedding! It's a beautiful little black dress with a beautiful piece that drapes over the shoulder that gives the dress a weightless look!

This royal blue dress would be great for a wedding! It is beautiful and I just love the way it flows! The neckline is gorgeous and flirty! It is made by Fa'ouli.



JS Boutique also designed this third dress. This is one of those dresses that anyone can wear! It comes in purple, blue and black. It is also available in petite and plus sizes. It's the perfect length for any wedding! 


I have this next dress in black. It's really comfortable and it is very comfortable and flattering. It comes in a variety of colors including black, teal, pink, red, royal blue, grape, daffodil and many more.
 Link



Interlude designed this next dress. It is the perfect dress for an outdoor spring or summer wedding ceremony! 


The next dress is available at Cache. It's a beautiful little black dress with rosette details on the shoulder.

This dress available at Cache would be perfect for an August/September or even spring wedding. I love the way the skirt flows. It would be a fun dress to dance in!
If you are attending a more formal wedding ceremony you may want to consider one of the following gorgeous formal gowns. The first dress is available at Cache and the second is available at White House Black Market.

The next two dresses are also available at White House Black Market. The first dress I bought this year in red. It is a beautiful dress with rosette accents around the sweetheart neckline with a beautiful straight skirt. The second dress is a fun black and white polka dot dress with a flattering black bow sash. Both dresses come with straps or can be worn strapless. 

The following dresses would be perfect for a spring or summer wedding! 


This collection is designed by Lilly Pulitzer



Lavender luminescent chiffon strapless baby doll gown, gathered empire bodice with flower detail. I just love this dress! 



Instead of reaching for your favorite little black dress when deciding on what to wear to the next wedding, infuse some color into your wardrobe with a bold, colorful cocktail dress instead. This dress is currently available at Neiman Marcus.   This dress is the Badgley Mischka Strapless Beaded Dress.


I absolutely love this gorgeous dress! The color purple is really popular this spring! It's easy to see why!! But, what I love most about the Gianni Bini Pamela Dress is that it is only $148! 

If purple is not your color, you may want to try yellow this spring and summer.  This yellow dress worn by Kim Kardashian is gorgeous! It is an amazing color on women with dark features. For women with lighter features, you may want to go for a littler yellow or even a gold. 

The great thing about my last choice is that it is only $95!!! It is available Here.